Idaho Bound

It's finally here!!

We are Idaho Bound!!

We seriously haven't been more excited for something in a long time!

Let the good times begin!

 (Photos compliments of 2011 Idaho Summer Trip!)

Surprise Sleepover

I love when you're the last one to find out

that your child invited another child over a sleepover.

Anden invited his friend Caden.

So we made the most of it.

We picked him up Friday afternoon and headed to

The original movie was a favorite.

And the prequel is a favorite too!

The theater was packed!

So the boys were cool enough to sit in the row behind us.

Anden brought his Mike glowing wand.

The guests around him just loved that.

Taylee lasts about 20 mins before she ends up on my lap the rest of the movie.

Not sure why I'm required to buy her a separate ticket! lol

We headed home afterwards

and played played played.

It was 8:30pm when we were running through the sprinklers at the park.

Usually my kids are in bed then.

Needless to say it was a long night!

The next morning the boys were wandering the house at 6:45am!

WHAT?!

I guess I didn't get a late night turns into a late morning.

So by 8am we were on a bike ride in the smothering heat.

We stopped at one of the parks along the way

to play on the equipment and engage in some competitive fights

during a friendly Red Light Green Light game.

Lack of sleep does wonders the following day.

By 9am we were hot and tired and gorging ourselves on Otter Pops.

We hit the pool soon after!

Taylee has become a High Dive Queen!

She is so adorably brave.

She's a 1/3 the size of most of the kids waiting in line.

But it doesn't even phase her! lol

 Dueling Diving Harbecks

(Anden jumped earlier than Taylee!)

We took Caden home after swimming.

Then we came home too

It took the kids about an hour

before they were totally crashed out asleep.

It's a rough life playing all night and day!

I was just as exhausted!

Too bad I chose to catch up on chores instead of nap!

Another Movie Monday

When it gets 100+ degrees outside you are forced

to move indoors.

So another Movie Monday Morning it was!

This week we saw

Then we went immediately to a new pool.

We like to mix it up and find random pools to sneak be invited into.

Taylee's Dance Recital

The big weekend finally arrived!

Taylee's Dance Recital!

She has been taking classes since January

and has absolutely loved it!

She has so much natural charisma and loves performing.

We practiced her routine many times.
"Minnie's Bowtique"

She was ready to go!

Her Dress Rehearsal was on Thursday.

It was the first time any of her group had been on a real stage

with lights, costume, make up, hair!

They were so cute although very disoriented!

Then again they are 3-4 year olds.

They could just stand there and not do a thing and they would still be adorable!

Since there are no video/pictures allowed at the real performance,

I took a video during Dress Rehearsal!

Enjoy!

Friday Show:

Friday night was her first performance.

I got her all dolled up and

we arrived early to check her in.
I gave her a huge good luck hug/kiss and sent her with the escort to the back waiting room.

Then we found our seats and anxiously awaited in the audience for her debut.

I'll admit,

I read through the program 100 times

counting down the routines until it was her turn.

But I still immediately got butterflies when she was the next group up.

I'm not sure if I was nervous for her

or just re-living all of my own pre-performance jitters from back in the day!

The girls marched on out there and did awesome!

I had the biggest grin plastered across my face.

Half of the girls didn't remember the moves.

But they were adorable beyond words.

Definitely a crowd favorite!

Then they marched on off.

Their long awaited 2 minutes of fame was over.

At least for tonight.

They were in the second show tomorrow too!

She was beyond beaming when I checked her out at intermission!

She was truly a celebrity with her flowers and fans awaiting her!

Saturday Show:

The Studio Owner had asked me to be the parent chaperone for Taylee's class.

I gladly accepted.

So I was the backstage Mom for this show.

Little did I know it was a 3 hour show

with curtain call and awards afterwards.

None of the girls could leave early at intermission

(which they could last night)

So I AND the girls were in for a long haul.

We were Routine #40...of #48!

So it was a LONG wait!

Entertaining my Minnie's with a movie!

Waiting Room Chaos

Finally lining up for their performance.

Quick Picture while we waited to be called onto stage.

Their Instructors: Miss Kaylee and Miss Lyndsie

Next up! Waiting side stage!

My view of their performance!

Post Performance Pic!

After the last group performed,

all the groups lined up for one big massive curtain call!

Then they did awards.

All the Mini Groups got a ribbon.

Taylee also got called up for a Perfect Attendance medal!

She was thrilled!

This was such a fun little weekend.

I'm so PROUD of Taylee and all the girls!

They all did so awesome.

It was definitely fun to be a part of it and really appreciate all that goes on

behind the scenes to pull off an event like this!

He Has Arrived!

Welcome

Jensen Asher Grim!

He made his debut on June 11th!

I was there as soon as possible to meet the cute little munchkin!

As much time as my kids spend at Holly's house,

it's like their new little brother too!

They can't wait to meet him!

We've been on hiatus while Holly recovers.

But we'll soon be back to smother this little peanut!

Liquid Saturday

June 8th.

110 degrees.

The kids and I attempted a bike ride at 8am.

We were soaked in sweat by the time we got home.

Forget this!  Let's hit the pool!

I texted Ash and told her to meet us there pronto.

And of course we ran into lots of other friends too.

That's one of my fave things about Anthem.

It's as close to good 'ole Blackfoot Idaho as I can get.

You can't step foot outside your house without seeing 5 people you know!

So the kids took over the diving boards with all their friends!

Collin & Taylee

Grace

Crazy Anden

Not So Crazy Crew

A couple hours later Ryan calls us.

He had finished work early and was dying of the heat also.

He made an executive decision.

Head home because we're going to the lake!

So we loaded up the kiddos

and told them to stay in their swimsuits because this water day was far from over!

A couple hours after that we were on the way to the lake!

Tyler was playing in a charity golf tournament so he would meet us later.

So lucky Ryan was surrounded by 2 women and 4 kids! :)

It was abnormally windy at the lake that day.

So we braved the white caps tubing

then anchored in a calm cove and swam and entertained ourselves.

Or maybe just Ryan was the official kid entertainer!

 

We stayed until sunset!

Then mad dashed home to relieve the babysitter.

(Baby Cash didn't make this trip!)

Such a fun day!

I love last minute lake trips!